A confirmatory factor analysis of the Clinical Nursing Practice Environment Scale with hospital registered nurses in Taiwan

Aims and objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the Clinical Nursing Practice Environment Scale in Taiwan.

Background: Many nurses are faced with an unsatisfying clinical nursing work environment in Taiwan. Thus, there is a need for an evaluation instrument that can lead to improvement in the clinical nursing practice workplace strategy index.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 687 nurses completed the Clinical Nursing Practice Environment Scale. Based on a randomised split of the data, two groups were formed. For the group 1 (n = 344) data, exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the factor structure of the instrument. A second-order confirmatory factor analysis was then used to test the framework of the group 2 (n = 343) data, based on structural equation modelling.

Results: The exploratory factor analysis of 29 items yielded a five-factor structure. The five factors explained 62·87% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the five Clinical Nursing Practice Environment Scale subscales ranged from 0·80-0·93. A second-order confirmatory factor analysis identified a second-order factor termed 'clinical nursing practice environment.'

Conclusions: The Clinical Nursing Practice Environment Scale model was judged to fit the data adequately.

Relevance to clinical practice: The Clinical Nursing Practice Environment Scale model provides the hospital manager with information that can be used to evaluate the organisational situation and to develop an intervention to improve the workplace environment in Taiwan.